Religious Jewelry Articles

ABSTRACT

New forms of religious jewelry. Jewelry articles are provided representing the tomb of Jesus, to depict and/or symbolize the event of the Resurrection for Christian religious adherents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/641,827 filed Dec. 18, 2009 (pending) (“the '827 application”). Thisapplication is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.29/435,971 filed Oct. 31, 2012 (pending) (the '971 application), whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/360,950filed May 3, 2010 (abandoned), which is a continuation-in-part of the'827 application. This application claims all rights of priority to the'827 application and the '971 application, the contents of whichapplications are fully incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of religious articles,namely, articles of jewelry for religious adherents of Christiandenominations. Religious jewelry is well known in the art, and, in fact,the practice of wearing religious jewelry dates back to antiquity. InChristianity, in particular, jewelry in the shape of a cross is commonlyprovided for depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to new forms of religious jewelry. Inparticular, jewelry articles are provided in the image and/or structureof the tomb of Jesus, to depict and/or symbolize an important religiousevent and place for Christian religious adherents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front of a first embodiment of the presentinvention, depicting an article for use as Christian jewelry.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back of an additional embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention, a religious article isprovided in the structure and/or image of a tomb or cave to serve as anarticle of jewelry depicting and/or symbolizing an event and/or place inreligious history.

In the preferred embodiments, articles are provided for use by Christianreligious adherents.

In the further preferred embodiments, the invention is an article ofjewelry provided for use by Christians or others to depict and/orsymbolize the Resurrection in Christian theology, namely, theresurrection of Jesus after the crucifixion.

In further preferred embodiments, a method is disclosed of commemoratingor symbolizing a religious event by providing to customers and/or users,and/or by using, an article of jewelry which is meant to depict orsymbolize the resurrection of Jesus. In preferred embodiments, thearticle used resembles, depicts, or symbolizes a tomb or cave,specifically, the tomb of Jesus.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, an article of jewelry 10 is provideddepicting a tomb or cave 12 having an entrance 14. In one embodiment,the tomb has a cross 16 above it. Alternatively or additionally, cross16 can be placed inside entrance 14, on the back of the religiousarticle, or otherwise on or in association with it Likewise, any othersuitable symbol or text relating to Christianity or the resurrection ofJesus can be placed on or in association with the religious article.

In alternate or additional embodiments, the religious article can beprovided with the image of rays of light 20, whether above and/or aroundtomb 12 and/or within entrance 14, or otherwise.

In yet further alternate or additional embodiments, the cave 12 can beprovided with one or more stones 22 to cover or seal entrance 12. Stone22 can be fixed in place or movable, as discussed below. In addition,stone 22 can be provided in any desired position, whether to the rightand/or left of the entrance 12, or otherwise.

In those embodiments where article of jewelry 10 is intended for use aspart of a necklace 42, article 10 can be further provided with an eye 8for threading a chain therethrough. Alternatively or additional, anyother jewelry features currently known or later developed in the art canbe used in conjunction with the invention, whether a clasp for abracelet, a pin for a pendant, or otherwise.

As such, article 10 is used as a religious article and symbol in amanner analogous to use of a cross to depict an event in the life ofJesus. However, while a cross depicts a tragic event in Christiantheology, namely, persecution, killing, and death, the use of the tombor cave is intended to depict a joyous occasion, namely, resurrection,rebirth, and life.

In additional or alternative embodiments, the two-dimensional image orthree-dimensional representation of a person can be placed within oroutside the tomb or cave, to represent the resurrection of Jesus.

In further embodiments, any of the features, structures, or images ofthe invention described herein can be placed on the front side of thereligious article and/or on the back of it.

In various embodiments, the invention can be depicted in any of numerousshapes to represent a tomb, cave, or rock or a rock face such as that ofa mountain. FIG. 1 is one such shape merely provided for illustrationpurposes, although it will be understood that the figures are notintended as a limitation on the scope of the invention.

The tomb or cave 12 can be illustrated flat or in three dimensionalform. For example, in one embodiment, the tomb 12 can be illustrated ona flat article of jewelry, whether by painting, carving, or otherwise.In an alternative or additional embodiment, the tomb 12 can be providedas a three dimensional object shaped like a rock or rock face such asthe outside of a mountain. Preferably, the mountain further includes ahollowed out portion representing a cave.

In one embodiment of the invention, the tomb is provided with one ormore stones 22 adjacent or proximate to the cave's entrance. That stoneor stones can be to the right and/or left of the cave entrance, orotherwise in any position or location with respect to the cave entrance.If desired, stone 22 can be covering the cave entrance in whole or inpart.

In one such embodiment, the stone or stones are fixed in place.

In additional or alternative embodiments, one or more stones 22 aremovable in front of and away from the cave entrance. Preferably, thestone is designed to move, slide or roll away from the tomb entrance 14allowing one to view the tomb entrance and the tomb's interior 43.Likewise, the stone can move back in front of the tomb entrance toconceal the interior 43 of the tomb.

In one such embodiment, one or more stones 22 are hinged allowing themto be folded back to the right and/or left to reveal or conceal theinterior of the tomb.

In a further embodiment, a track is placed along a portion of thearticle and includes a rail or bar 32 which extends into a groove orchannel 34 in the stone 22. Stone 22 can slide along that track, as wellknown, for example, with respect to sliding doors. Or, stone 22 can beconfigured to roll or pivot, allowing one to open or close the tombentrance. For example, a small ball bearing can be located within achannel or recess in stone 22, the ball bearing having a short rodextending therefrom which affixes the ball bearing to the article toallow movement of the stone in front of and away from the cave entrance.The track, ball bearing or other mechanism for movement of the stonewise can be affixed to the ground in front of the cave, to the frontsurface of the cave (whether the cave's outer entrance or otherwise), orinside the cave as desired. Likewise, the track or ball bearing canextend into a channel or recess on the bottom or top of the stone, theback or front of the stone, or otherwise, allowing the stone to slide,pivot, or roll to partially or totally block and partially or totallyreveal the view of the interior of the cave. If desired, the stone orstone can be configured to move away from the cave entrance such that itremains outside of the cave, or can be configured to move into the caveentrance and cave itself.

In a further alternate or additional embodiment, the stones move or foldback to secure to the arms 30 of a cross 38 on the back of the jewelryarticle as shown in FIG. 2. In this manner, one side of the articleshows the open tomb entrance 14, and the opposite side 28 shows a cross30 in the face of a mountain, with the arms of the cross being used tohold the stones in place, leaving the tomb entrance open.

In any of these embodiments, the article can be a locket, with themovable stone acting as the door of the locket. The cave entrance canhave an image placed therein or depicted in the cave, if desired.Additionally or alternatively, the cave can be a recess with roomavailable for placement of a photograph or other object within the cave.Further alternatively or additionally, the tomb itself can be placedwithin a locket, such that either the tomb face and cave entrance, orthe interior of the cave itself, is visible when the locket door isopened. For example, the exterior of the locket can be in the shape of amountain face, which opens to reveal the interior of the tomb. Or, atraditional locket exterior can be provided which opens to reveal theexterior of the mountain with a cave entrance, or which opens to revealthe interior of the tomb.

In yet further alternative or additional embodiments of the invention,the figure of Jesus can be placed on one or more crosses on orassociated with the article. For example, a human figure can be providedon a cross on the back of the article. In this manner, a before andafter image is provided, the back of the jewelry being the before imageof the crucifixion, and the front of the jewelry being the after imageof the resurrection.

In any of the embodiments of the invention, the jewelry can be partly orwholly made from and/or provided with precious or semi-preciousgemstones, or any other stones. These include, but are not limited to,diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, aventurine, agate,alexandrite, amethysts, aquamarine, carnelian, citrine, garnets, jade,jasper, malachite, lapis lazuli, moonstones, onyx, opals, peridots,quartz, sodalite, sunstone, tanzanite, tiger's eye, topaz, tourmaline,amber, copal, coral, jet, abalone, and/or any other gems, and/or anycombination thereof. The article can be made from or carved from asingle stone, or made from one or more stones, whether the same stone ora combination of different stones. Likewise, if desired, the article canbe made from or include particular birthstones (i.e. gems correspondingto the month one of one's birth), or any other stones.

Likewise, in any of these embodiments, the jewelry can be partly orwholly made from and/or provided with metals, whether gold, silver,copper, platinum, palladium, rhodium, brass, bronze, pewter, steel,titanium, or any metals, whether precious metals, pure metals, alloys,or otherwise, and/or any combination thereof. Similarly, the article canbe made of any combination of metals and stones desired, or any otherdesired combination of materials.

In further additionally or alternative embodiments, the jewelry articleis partially or totally made of a transparent material, such as glass ora suitable crystalline material, such that the interior of the tomb isvisible to the user. Further additionally or alternatively, atranslucent material can be used in whole or in part.

Yet, further additionally or alternatively, a light can be placed on orin association with the tomb. This embodiment, using a light, can beused in conjunction with any of the embodiments of the invention,whether an embodiment which is transparent or translucent in part, orotherwise.

As examples, one or more lights in the form of an LED or smallincandescent bulb can be used, the light being provided with a powersource such as a small battery or solar cell, so that the light isoperable to provide illumination. For example, the light source 44 canbe placed within the tomb or cave to illuminate it from within, or canbe placed on the top of the mountain, or in front of the cave entrance.A switch can also be provided to allow the user to turn the light on andoff, to illuminate the inside and/or outside of the religious article,whether when triggered by the user or when one or more portion of thereligious article are moved, whether the stone, the cross or otherwise.For example, in one embodiment, when the stone is moved away from theentrance, the switch is triggered causing the light to illuminate,providing illumination from the interior of the cave and/or illuminatingthe outside of the religious article.

In one embodiment, the religious symbol is provided on a necklace. Infurther embodiments, the article is provided on or as part of abracelet, a pin or pendant, a ring for a finger (or toes), an earring,or any other form of jewelry known in the art. In further embodiments,any other article, ornamentation, method, or technique known in the artof jewelry making can likewise be utilized consistent with theinvention.

In further embodiments, as an alternative or addition to the use of thepresent inventions are religious jewelry, the inventions herein areutilized as a Christmas ornament having any combination of the featuresdescribed herein.

Additionally, the present description of the embodiments of theinventions is not intended as a limitation; rather, the embodiments canbe used in any combination with each other and/or in any combinationwith any jewelry or Christmas ornament embodiments known or subsequentlydeveloped in the art.

Having described this invention with regard to specific embodiments, itis to be understood that the description is not meant as a limitationsince further embodiments, modifications and variations may be apparentor may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is intendedthat the present application cover all such embodiments, modificationsand variations.

1. A religious article, comprising: an article of jewelry; said jewelrybeing three dimensionally shaped to provide the appearance of at least aportion of a mountain; said jewelry comprising an entrance to saidmountain; said jewelry comprising an object simulating the appearance ofa stone, wherein said object is proximate to said entrance, and whereinsaid object is moveable away from said entrance to reveal the interiorof said mountain; wherein said article comprises a light therein forproviding illumination; and wherein movement of said object away fromsaid entrance causes said light to illuminate within said article andthrough said entrance.
 2. A religious article as claimed in claim 1,wherein said entrance is a recess in said jewelry.
 3. A religiousarticle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said religious article comprisesan interior and said light illuminates said interior of said religiousarticle.
 4. A religious article as claimed in claim 1, wherein at leasta portion of said religious article comprises a material whichtransparent or translucent, and wherein said illumination provided bysaid light is visible through said material.
 5. A religious article asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said article comprises a necklace.
 6. Areligious article as claimed in claim 1, wherein said jewelry comprisesthe image of a cross.